Bruce Arians reiterates Antonio Brown won't be back with Bucs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arians reiterates Antonio Brown won't play again for Buccaneers

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 1/5/22

Following the shocking and unexpected midgame exit that Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Antonio Brown made from the field during this past Sunday's win at the New York Jets, Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians told reporters Brown was "no longer a Buc."

While the Buccaneers still hadn't officially released Brown as of early Wednesday afternoon, Arians left little doubt the seven-time Pro Bowl selection has played his final down with the organization.

Arians said how Bucs will handle Antonio Brown’s roster status is a “management decision.” Made it clear he’s not part of the team moving forward.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 5, 2022

Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk adds Arians' latest comments suggest Tampa Bay is still attempting to determine the exact designation needed for removing the 33-year-old from the active roster.

Brown supposedly told Buccaneers coaches Sunday that the ankle he originally hurt back on Oct. 14 was too injured for him to continue versus the Jets, and a report surfaced Tuesday that a "top surgeon" who doesn't work for the organization confirmed via an MRI that Brown has a legitimate setback.

The Buccaneers seemingly disagree with that diagnosis.

The #Bucs listed Antonio Brown on their Week 18 official injury report.

"Not injury related - personal" pic.twitter.com/Lt8cp1YG09
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 5, 2022

As Rick Stroud wrote for the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers could make Brown ineligible to play by putting him on injured reserve or by suspending him without pay for conduct detrimental to the team.

If Tampa Bay doesn't go in any of those routes and releases Brown, he'd be subject to waivers and, thus, could possibly join a different Super Bowl contender ahead of the playoffs. He'd become a free agent if no team claimed him.

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